Great Falls tribune., 1887-02-26
WAYsIDE ETCHINGS.

The pitable condition of cattle cannot
but touch the hearts of the most stole.
The Missouri river banks from this point
to the mouth of its canyon, are lined Nth
the poor, suffering creatures, who are
striving to keep life within them by brows
ing the willows and cottonwoods. It is a
desperate struggle, with the elements
against them. The many dead ones would
saem to indicate that the enemy was pow
erful, and determined to complete the ex-
termination of the range cattle industry.
*
1t is the opinion of nearly every cattle
man that the effects of this winter will be
to create new era in the stock insdustry
in Montana. More dependence will be
put in hay and shelter, and less in ProEi-
dence. Said prominent stock man: 81
tell you, young man, the present season,
with all its disastrous results, is blessing
in disguise Within five years Montana
will produce more cattle than ever before.
Care will be taken to grade them up, and
a better price will be realized. We will
depend upon the hay we have in sight for
the success of the industry, and take no
chances upon the capriciousness of the
elements Of course have schooled my
self to take no stock in the alledged cruelty
of the industry as now carried on, but
blush of shame will now and then creep
over me, when l see the poor creatures
diving by inches one of the most horrible
of Deaths
~
Blake, the Helena butcher. met with
serious loss of sheep during the blizzard
couple of weeks ago. He had 2,200 head
in the morning and in the afternoon the
herder found but roo and these are dying
off at the rate Of fifty per day. They had
neither hay nor shelter during the winter,
but were compelled to rustic for subsis
tence.
*
have no sympathy for Blake, but have
d large quantity for his sheep. If the
eternal fitness Of things were observed,
Blake ought to be haunted by the ghosts
of this band of innocents for the balance
of his days,
*
Herb. Chowen tells this on himself:
While down at Minneapolis he met Char
ley Webster on the street one bitter cold
morning, and noticing that the luster on
Charleys nose was changed to marble
whiteness by the frigid ozone, unbundled
himself and applied restoratiyes to the
frosted protuberance. After performing
this generous act, he started on his way,
forgetting to replace his wraps, and had
not taken more than ten steps before a
passer-by notified him that Jack Frost had
tackled his ears Herb said no good
samaritan loomed up to apply dirty snow
to his frosted members, but that he had
to do it himself.
*
Considering everything, think Charley
is indebted to the price of basket Of
Mumm's Extra Dry, at least. ...
~
The present session of the legislature is
d .1singuishing itself as conservative body.
Numerous good and wholesome laws are
being added to our statutes. and it seems
to be the prevailing opinion that it is the
most distinguished and best behaved as
sembly in the history of the territory. One
peculiarly of the lower house is that no
bill which savors of unconstitutionality,
will be sanctioned until all doubt is re-
moved. This is departure from the rut,
as legislatures usually do not look very
closely into such matters, but leave that
for the courts to decide. Nevertheless it
is good precedent, and should hereafter
be observed.
~
The creation Of the county Of Cascade,
with Great Falls as the county seat, seems
likely TO pass.
W. II. Todd, of the Rjger Press, who
holds subordinate clerkship in the lower
house, is very otficious in his opposition to
this county scheme, and is not only max
ing himself highly offensive to the mem
bers of the legislature, but is placing his
further business relations with the people
of the new county in a very unpleasant
position His we'll know feather weight
ability would preclude the possibility of
his vaporings having any effect for or
against the bill.
*s*
Todd's protege, the Rsaer Press, voices
hic nnnnsitinr, t1, tho r,oar,,ro 1urhinh or1a